March 17, 2015 8:23pm EDTMarch 17, 2015 8:23pm EDTAll Sports, Cricket, News, ICC World Cup, English, Australia, Shane Watson, ODIShane Watson is determined to make sure he cannot be dropped again after winning back his place in Australia's Cricket World Cup squad.Australia all-rounder Shane Watson(Getty Images)

Sporting news

Published on Mar. 17, 2015

Mar. 17, 2015

All-rounder Shane Watson has vowed to make the most of the second chance handed to him by Australia's selectors.

Watson was dropped for Australia's fourth match of the Cricket World Cup group stage against Afghanistan after a soft dismissal for just 23 at the hands of Daniel Vettori in their dramatic defeat to tournament co-hosts New Zealand.

But he was brought back for the win over Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground, posting a useful 67, and will likely be relied upon to produce the good again in Friday's quarter-final with Pakistan.

"I wasn't expecting to play after being dropped for the Afghanistan game for the rest of the tournament," Watson said.

"[Chief selector] Rod Marsh at that time made it very clear what their intentions were.

"It was unbelievably disappointing. When it really sunk in I'd been dropped, it really hurt.

"It's just amazing how quickly things can turn around.

"I know [being dropped] is going to hold me in good stead over the next couple of years hopefully, because I don't want to be feeling like that again.

"I'm going to be doing everything I can to make sure I make the most of this opportunity now."

Speaking about the challenge presented by Pakistan, Watson added: "They can play some incredible cricket, as they have in times I've played against them, but they also can self-destruct quite quickly as well.

"That's the reason why Pakistan are so dangerous especially in a knock-out game like this quarter-final."